Johny Hendricks On UFC 171

What Kind Of Man Does It Take To Become The UFC Welterweight Champ?

As the ZQuick shoot moved from the confines of the gym to different outdoor locations, the adopted local boy (Hendricks grew up in Oklahoma) quickly began to get recognized. Fans started to swarm him for autographs and pictures, and Hendricks humored all of them. He shook hands, he smiled, he asked them questions about themselves and apologized when he was called back to the set.

I’d been expecting a tough guy, an arrogant guy — that archetypal fighter I had created in my mind — but Johny Hendricks, pure and simple, is a nice guy. He’s a grateful husband, a proud father and a spiritual man who counts his blessings. Yes, he fights for a living — and he fights hard — but the goal is not to knock out other men for money (although he does that very well) but to prove to himself that he can be the best.

“Legacy? Easy. Forget about it. You’ve got the belt, cool. But then you’ve got to do it again. Then you do it again. And again. And again. That’s the most important thing: Repeat as much as you can. The work has just begun. I’m not a real champ ‘til I defend it. That’s the way it’s always been in my mind and that’s what I plan on doing.”

The Champ

Hendricks was hitting Lawler, again and again. The crowd, although still nervous, roared with anticipation. The fight moved to the mat. Lawler, who was pinned under a mess of beard and blood, looked frustrated and tired. He looked up, almost resigned to his fate. The fifth round was ticking away and Hendricks would not be denied, not again. The bell rang.

The fight had been close — too close for most to call — but after 119 days of intense preparation and 15 very determined minutes, Johny Hendricks was crowned welterweight champion of the world.

Waiting for the champ as he finished a few live TV interviews, I watched as he joked with reporters — many of whom he remembered by name — asking for them to film his “good side.” He spoke thoughtfully and answered every question. He didn’t try to hurry anyone up. The oversized, golden belt was slung over his shoulder.

He limped over to where a few of us were standing. Visibly exhausted, he asked if he could sit down. Everyone laughed. Who was going to tell Johny Hendricks, the welterweight champion of the world, no?

“The hardest thing is that the people who don’t know anything about fighting, they label you. Once they get to know me, they’re like, ‘Ah, you’re not anything like I thought.’ That’s probably the hardest thing about being a fighter — everything else is easy.

"When my kids grow up, my goal is someday, someone will come up to them and say, ‘Your dad was an amazing person.’ Not saying I was an amazing fighter but a genuine person. That’s what I strive for."